BOISE, Idaho — Fire crews are making progress on the wildfire burning in east of Boise.
"We're really optimistic," said Chad Cline, Bureau of Land Management Boise District spokesperson. "We got a lot of experienced folks out here, and we got a lot of help."
So far, the Valley Fire has burned more than 9,800 acres in the Boise Foothills near Warm Springs Avenue and Highway 21 since it started Friday. It is 50% contained.
With the west side of the fire being carefully monitored, Cline said the firefight is on the north, northeast and southeast sides of the fire now.
He said firefighters are dealing with a lot of timber and steep terrain.
"Our fuels this year have been really dense and really dry," Cline said. "I mean, we're in the middle of October, and we're in the 80-degree weather."
Robie Creek is still under a level one, Be Ready, evacuation notice. Alex Chamberlain has a second home in the area.
Chamberlain said he and his neighbors are starting to relax after seeing the progress firefighters have made the last couple of days. Roughly 250 people are fighting the fire on the ground and in the air.
"It's daunting, but it's not at my doorstep," he said. "So, I'm not overwrought about it."
No homes or structures have burned. The Boise County Sheriff's Office also told KTVB it hopes to drop the evacuation notice on Tuesday.
"We're not seeing active flames pouring up big plumes of smoke like were before," Chamberlain said. "It's reassuring that they've been able to keep a boundary between the fire and all the residents of Robie Creek."
Although it is a popular area for hunting and hiking, Cline asked people to stay clear until the fire is under control to help keep the firefighters safe.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.